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Prof
Ian Abrahams

Head of School of Education

About Ian Abrahams

Ian Abrahams is Head of the School of Education and Professor of Science Education in the College of Social Science. Having previously been a teacher of physics and head of department he undertook a PhD in Education and then, in 2007, moved into Higher Education working initially at Bishop Grosseteste University College before moving to the IoE (now UCL Institute of Education), the University of York and then most recently the University Leeds. Ian’s research interests relate to practical work, misconceptions, Continuing Professional Development - in particular the effectiveness of such programmes - and students’ and teachers’ attitudes towards science education and the use of drama as a tool for teaching science. Ian has directed the evaluation of various large-scale national interventions, including the ‘Getting Practical’ programme (2009-11), a Nuffield funded project to improve the effectiveness of practical work (2012), and the Wellcome Trust funded pilot CPD programme for primary science specialists (2012-14). His research has led him into collaborations with colleagues in China, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Singapore, South Korea and Turkey. Ian was elected a Fellow of the Institute of Physics in 2017.

Department Responsibilities

Professor Abrahams has overall responsiblity for the School of Education and contributes to teaching on various postgraduate programmes and is supervising full- and part-time PhD/EdD students from various countries including Cyprus, Ireland and the UK.

Subject Specialism

Science education and the evaluation of educational interventions

Qualifications

PhD
— University of York, 2006

MA (Ed.)
— Open University, 2000

PGCE
— Open University, 1997

MSc
— King’s College, London, 1992

BSc
— University of York, 1990

Orcid ID

0000-0001-6214-8623

Research Interests

Continuing Professional Development

Evaluating Educational Interventions

Practical Work in Science Education

Science Education

Research Projects

Pair-mentoring: A project to improve the achievement and attitude in science of students aged 16 in England
— awarded £49400 by in 2015

Evaluation of practical work CPD resources for teachers
— awarded £9500 by The Nuffied Foundation in 2012

Research on assessment and practical work
— awarded £17895 by Gatsby in 2012

Evaluation of a pilot CPD programme for primary science coordinators
— awarded £179000 by The Wellcome Trust in 2012